News

More police needed across the Euroa electorate

12 June 2015

Friday 12 June 2015

More police are needed across the Euroa electorate to ensure the safety of small and medium sized communities, according to The Nationals Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan.

Ms Ryan said recent changes preventing police officers from working solo due to heightened security concerns had resulted in reduced hours at country police stations.

In Stanhope today, Ms Ryan launched a petition calling on Daniel Andrews to fund additional police across the Euroa electorate.

“I urge residents to send Daniel Andrews and the Labor party a message: don’t cut country coppers,” Ms Ryan said.

“Until last week, one-person police stations including Stanhope, Violet Town, Pyalong and Murchison faced closure because they could not meet operational changes.

“I welcome Victoria Police’s decision to undertake a security assessment of one-person police stations which may allow them to reopen but the situation has put the spotlight on the issue of resourcing.

“The precarious state small communities were left in serves to show why Daniel Andrews must invest in additional police.”

Ms Ryan said Daniel Andrews had funded just 15 new officers across the entire state in this year’s State Budget.

“Just 15 police officers will be employed next year under the new Labor Government and all 15 will be deployed to the Bellarine Peninsula,” Ms Ryan said.

“That is in stark contrast to the 1900 new police were employed during the four years the Coalition was in government.

“It has also done nothing to keep pace with population growth in communities like Wallan. Population growth in interface communities is likely to stretch police resources, leading to a further decline in country policing.”